Olga Kifyak (Ukrainian: Ольга Петровна Кіфяк, Russian: Ольга Петровна Кифяк, born 24 April 1984) is a Ukrainian ballet dancer, the 1-st soloist at the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after T.G. Shevchenko (since 2001).[1] Merited Artist of Ukraine[2] since 2012.

Olga Kifyak
Born
Olga Kifyak

(1984-04-24) 24 April 1984 (age 40)
OccupationBallet dancer
Years active2001–present
Career
Current groupNational Opera of Ukraine

Early life and training

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Was born in Kiev, the Soviet Union in 1984. She began her dance studies at the age of 5. In 1995 she entered the Kiyanochka choreographic school. At the age of 14, she entered the Ukrainian Academy of Dance (under the guidance of A. Kalchenko, Merited Artist of Ukraine. Founder of the Ukrainian Academy of Ballet.) In 2001 she graduated from the Academy with a degree in choreography, qualified as a ballet dancer. In the same year, she received a diploma of the International Slavic University with a degree in choreography. In 2002 she entered the Kherson State University. In 2006 she graduated from the university with the qualification of a teacher of choreography, aesthetics, artistic culture. Since 2001 she has been working at the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater of Ukraine named after. T.G. Shevchenko. Her first dance at the theater was as Paquita with Mikheev.

Awards

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  • Winner of the 4th International Competition Dance of the 21st Century (April 2000)
  • Winner of the contest-festival Lotus (March 2001)
  • Winner of the 4th International Competition (Vienna, Austria) - Diploma (April 2001)
  • Winner of the 1sr International Festival of Vaslav Nijinsky (March 2001)
  • Winner of the 4th International Ballet Competition of Serge Lifar – 3rd Prize (May 2002)
  • Winner of the 5th International Competition (Vienna, Austria) – 2nd Prize (April 2004)
  • Winner of the International Competition Premio Roma – 1st Prize (July 2004)[3]
  • Winner of the 7th International Festival-Competition (Dance of the 21st Century) – 1st prize for classical dance, 1st prize - modern (April 2004)
  • Winner of the 1st International Competition of Yuri Grigorovich Young Ballet of the World – 3rd Prize (September 2006)
  • Winner of the 6th International Ballet Competition of Serge Lifar - 2nd Prize (April 2006)[4]

Repertoire

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The repertoire includes the largest works of classical ballet, as well as many roles in modern ballets. Critics say that "Olga Kifyak was born to dance and in a short time has become principal ballerina par excellence. From the dramatic to the lyrical to the tricks of a master, Kifyak has it all – public accolades and professional awards".[4] "A graduate of the Ukrainian Academy of Dance in Kyiv, Kifyak held the audience's attention throughout the score, moving the tragic story along with her incredible footwork and graceful arm sweeps. Kifyak's small frame disguised a powerful repertoire that included standing on tiptoe for minutes at a time."[5]
Critics call her acting "superb, her extensions in the pas de deux sky-high and her 32 fouettes razor-sharp"[6]

Roles performed

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  • La Bayadère - Gamzatti
  • Don Quixote - Kitri, Street Dancer
  • Swan Lake - Odette and Odile
  • Raymonda - Friends
  • Scheherazade – Zobeide
  • Spartacus in the choreography of V.Litvinov and A.I.Litvinov – Aegina
  • The Nutcracker - Clara (Masha)
  • Carmen Suite by R. Shchedrin - Carmen
  • The Corsair - Medora, Gulnara
  • Sleeping Beauty – Aurora
  • Lilea by K. Dankevich - Rusalka
  • Forest Song by Mikhail Skorulsky - Mavka
  • Viennese Waltz - Carla
  • Paquita grand pas classique - Paquita
  • The Legend of Love - Gold
  • Master and Margarita - Margarita
  • Daniella - Sophie
  • Snow White - Snow White
  • Giselle - Myrtha, Pas de deux
  • Copel – Swanilda
  • The Marriage of Figaro - Susanna
  • Zorba the Greek - Marina
  • The Snow Queen - Crow
  • Julius Caesar - Kithridia
  • Dance of the Hours - Laura
  • Scheherazade - Zobeida choreographed by A.G.Isupova
  • Once Upon a Summer, choreographed by N. Didyk
  • Lonely Tango choreographed by T.Ostroverh[7]

Participation in festivals

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References

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  1. ^ "Persons". www.opera.com.ua. Taras Shevchenko National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Ukraine.
  2. ^ "УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №180/2012". www.president.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). The Presidential Administration of Ukraine.
  3. ^ "Edizioni precedenti". concorsointernazionaledanza.it. Premio Roma Danza.
  4. ^ a b "Olga Kifyak in celebration of 20th Anniversary of Great Russian Nutcracker". dallastelegraph.com. Russian Dallas - International Newspaper of Texas. 2012-11-14.
  5. ^ aimee suzanne kruse-ross (2017-12-01). "IN REVIEW: 'SWAN LAKE'". franklygreenbay.com. Frankly Green Bay.
  6. ^ Crystal Sung (2017-10-30). "Russian Grand Ballet's Swan Lake Cranes For Splendor But Loses Its Essence". crimsonnews.org. Crimson - Online News Site.
  7. ^ "OLGA KIFYAK A IL LAGO DEI CIGNI A CONEGLIANO" (PDF). trevisoinfo.it (in Italian).
  8. ^ Guy Courtheoux (2014-09-20). "CARMEN DANSE au palais des Congrès à Paris et en tournée dans toute la France". onsortoupas.fr (in French). Le Meilleur des Spectacles, Cabarets, Ballets, Opéras, Le best en Théâtre, Cinéma, BluRay et bien plus encore.
  9. ^ Susan Myrill Dougherty (2016-09-01). "Russian Grand Ballet Brings Swan Lake to Union Co. PAC". The Westfiled Leader and the Scotch Plains - Fanwood Times. A Watchung Communications, Inc Publication: 16.
  10. ^ "Russian Grand Ballet's Swan Lake is back". Katy Business Journal. September 2017.